Eisenhower dollar

Eisenhower dollar
source
Country	United States
Denomination	Dollar
Value	1.00
Unit	USD
Mass	22.68
Diameter	38.1
Thickness	2.58
Edge	Reeded
Composition	1971–1974, 1977–1978:, Outer layers: 75.0% copper, 25.0% nickel, Inner core: 100% copper, 1975–1976:, Outer layers: 80% silver, 20% copper, Inner core: 79% copper, 21% silver
Years of minting	1971–1978
Mint marks	D, S. Located above date on obverse. No mint mark for Philadelphia.
Obverse design	Portrait of Dwight D. Eisenhower
Obverse designer	Frank Gasparro
Obverse design date	1971
Reverse design	Apollo 11 mission insignia, based on design by Michael Collins
Reverse designer	Frank Gasparro
Reverse design date	1971

Eisenhower dollar. It was a one-dollar coin issued by the United States Mint from 1971 to 1978. Authorized by Congress to honor the late President Dwight D. Eisenhower and to commemorate the Apollo 11 Moon landing, it was the first dollar coin minted since the final Peace dollar in 1935. The coin's large size and composition made it unpopular for general circulation, but it found a niche among collectors and in casino gaming.

History

The drive for a new dollar coin began shortly after the death of Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1969, championed by powerful figures like House Banking Committee Chairman Wright Patman and Senate Minority Leader Roman Hruska. Simultaneously, the Congress sought a way to commemorate the successful Apollo 11 mission. These dual purposes were merged into a single coinage act. The Coinage Act of 1965 had removed silver from most coins, but numismatic interests and Nevada senators, responding to casino needs for a silver-content token, secured a compromise for special collector versions. President Richard Nixon signed the authorizing legislation into law on December 31, 1970. The coin's production spanned the administrations of Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, and into the Carter presidency, but its impractical size led to its replacement by the smaller Susan B. Anthony dollar in 1979.

Design

The obverse features a left-facing portrait of Dwight D. Eisenhower, created by Mint Chief Engraver Frank Gasparro. Gasparro based his work on a 1947 photograph taken during Eisenhower's tenure as President of Columbia University. The reverse design depicts the official Apollo 11 mission insignia, an eagle descending onto the lunar surface with the Earth in the background. This emblem was originally sketched by astronaut Michael Collins. For the bicentennial coins dated 1975-1976, a special reverse was used featuring the Liberty Bell superimposed over the Moon, designed by Dennis R. Williams, a young art student whose submission won a national contest administered by the Treasury Department.

Production and mintages

Regular production for circulation occurred at the Philadelphia Mint, Denver Mint, and San Francisco Mint. The standard composition was a copper-nickel clad layer sandwich, similar to the contemporary Kennedy half dollar. From 1971 to 1974, the San Francisco Mint also produced silver clad versions, with outer layers of 40% silver, specifically for collectors. All coins dated 1975 and 1976, both for circulation and in special three-coin Bicentennial sets, feature the dual date "1776-1976" and the special Liberty Bell reverse. Mintage figures were generally high, with the 1971-Philadelphia Mint issue exceeding 47 million, while the lowest circulation mintage was the 1973-Denver Mint coin at just over 2 million. The final circulation strikes were produced in 1978.

Varieties and errors

Several notable varieties exist, primarily from the first year of issue. The most famous is the 1971-Philadelphia Mint "Friendly Eagle" variety, where details on the eagle's feathers on the reverse are less distinct. A rare die variety for the 1972 issue exhibits a doubled die obverse, noticeably affecting the inscriptions. For the Bicentennial coins, some examples show a "Type I" or "Type II" reverse, differing in the clarity of the lettering on the Moon's surface beneath the Liberty Bell. While major striking errors are uncommon, off-center strikes and broadstrikes are known to exist across various dates, appealing to error specialists.

Collecting

The series is popular with collectors due to its short lifespan, clear Bicentennial subset, and accessible price point for most dates in circulated grades. Key coins include the 1973-Denver Mint circulation issue and the 1977-Philadelphia Mint coin, which had a relatively low mintage. The 40% silver clad proofs and uncirculated coins minted in San Francisco are collected separately. High-grade examples, especially those certified by services like PCGS or NGC, command significant premiums. The coin's historical link to both Dwight D. Eisenhower and the Apollo program adds to its narrative appeal beyond pure numismatics.

Category:Coins of the United States Category:1971 introductions Category:1978 disestablishments